Apparatus for annealing glassware



(No Model.) 2 ShetsSheet 1.

W. BUTTLBR.

APPARATUS FOR 'ANNBALING GLASSWARB. No. 602,677. Patented Apr. 19,1898.-

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. BUTTLER. APPARATUS FOR ANNEALINGGLASSWARE No. 602,677 Patented Apr. 19, 1898.

WITNESSES KW. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM BUTTLER, OF REDKEY, INDIANAA APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 602,677, dated April19, 1898. Application filed April 16 1897. Serial No. 632,477. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BUTTLER, of

Redkey, in the county of Jay and State of Indiana, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Apparatus for Annealing Glassware, of whichthe following is a clear, full, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a plant embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partially in section, of myintermediate heating-furnace. Fig. 3 is an endview of same, partlybroken away; and Fig. 4 shows a modified form.

In the manufacture of glass articles as heretofore practiced it has beencustomary to employ boys to take the articles singly or a few at a timeas they are finished at the press or at the glory-hole furnace and tocarry them to the annealing leer. This practice, although hithertonecessary, has been very objectionable, because it involves theemployment of a large number of boys whose aggregate wages areconsiderable, and their carelessness in carrying the glass articlesresults in a very considerable breakage and loss.v

I have devised an apparatus by which all the objections to the practiceabove mentioned are overcome and which, furthermore, improves thequality of the finished and annealed article of glassware.

The invention consists in an intermediate heatingfurnace into which theglass articles when taken from the press or mold or glory-hole areplaced and from which they are taken to the annealing-leer, said furnacecontaining a pan or box on which the glass articles are temporarilylaid, so that when a number of them have been accumulated the pan can belifted and all carried together to the leer. In this furnace the glassarticles are uniformly warmed and are thus partially annealed beforebeing introduced into the leer. The consequence is that the operation ofannealing in the leer is not only shortened, but it is better performedand a better product is obtained. Breakage and labor of handling theglass at its introduction into the leer and in its removal therefrom canalso be reduced by the carrying of a great number of articles on asingle pan, for which my invention provides.

Within the scope of my invention the intermediate heating-furnace may bevariously constructed. I have illustrated in the drawings the preferredconstruction which I intend to claim specifically, although the broadclaims of this specification are not intended to be limited thereto. I

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, 2 represents a leer containing theusual leer-pans, or carriers 3 3.

4 is the position of the glass-press, bl0wmold, or glory-hole, at whichthe glass articles are finished.

5 is the intermediate furnace. As shown in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 3,it consists of an outer case having an interior refractory lining ofbrick or clay and having at the base an eye or combustion-chamber- 6, inwhich may be burned gas, oil, coke, or anthracite coal. Air-ducts ortwyers 7 lead into this chamber and afford passages through which airmay be blown to maintain active combustion. Doors or grates 8 may beprovided at the bottom of the chamber for withdrawing the fuel, andsolid fuel may be introduced through a hopper 9.

10 is a support on which the box or pan carrying the-glass articles isplaced. This support is preferably constituted by horizontal bars at thelevel of the lower edge of the door-opening 11, through which the box orpan may be introduced and removed. At the opposite side of the furnacefrom the door-opening is an opening 12, permitting the introduction ofthe glass articles upon the box or pan.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I show the furnace provided with a fixed top or cover;but in Fig. 4 I show the same with a hinged top, which can be lifted soas to expose the interior of the fur nace and to permit easier accessthereto.

The furnace is movable, being preferably mounted on wheels 13, so thatit may be car ried to the desired position in the works. It is placednear the position of the pressman, blower, or the operator of theglory-hole at which the glass articles are reheated. A box or pan 14 isplaced in the furnace on the support 10, the doors 11 are shut, and asthe glass articles are finished they are placed successively through theopening '12 upon the box or pan. The pan is preferably made ofperforated-metal or of woven-metal strips, so as to afford numerousopenings through which the heat may rise from below. The articles on thepan are heated by the fire in the furnace, and when a sufficient numberof the articles have been accumulated the doors are opened and the pan,with all the articles thereon, is lifted out and placed upon one of thepans of the leer 2, on which it is carried through the leer, completingthe annealing of the glass articles in the usual manner. As soon as oneof the pans is removed from the furnace it is replaced by another one,so that the operation is continuous and without interruption. Theheating of the articles in the furnace immediately after their finishingis of great benefit in improving the quality of the finished articles byimparting to them a preliminary partial annealing, and in additionthereto the apparatus enables me to dispense with the numerouscarrying-in boys who have been employed heretofore for carrying theglass articles to the leer. Thus with my apparatus one man tending thefurnace can do the Work which has heretofore required sixteen boys.

I claim- 1. In a glass plant, a finishing-station, an

annealing-leer, an intermediate glass-heating furnace independent of anyglass-finishing furnace and located adjacent to the finishingstation,and a series of pans or carriers arranged to be successively placed inthe heating-furnace, and to be placed in an annealing-leer afterreceiving the finished glass articles in the heating-furnace.

2. In a glass plant, the combination with a finishing-station and anannealing-leer, of an intermediate glass-heatin g furnace independent ofthe glass-finishing furnace and adjacent to the finishing-station, saidfurnace containing a tray, a door at one side and a receiving-opening atthe opposite side, the tray being arranged to receive the finishedarticle and be deposited in the annealing-leer. 3. In a glass plant, afinishing-station, an intermediate glass-heating furnace adjacentthereto, an annealing-leer, and a series of pans or trays arranged to besuccessively placed in the heating-furnace and then placed in theannealing-leer after being filled with finished glass articles in saidheating-furnace.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM BUTTLER. Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, GEORGE I. HOLDSHIP.

